A Moment of Courage That began to Melt the System

This week, I watched an old system surface in the room – quietly, subtly, almost without us noticing. The energy tightened.
People shifted into performance, silence, and self-protection.
And before I knew it, I had slipped into it too.

My co-coach and I took a risk.
We slowed everything down.
We named what we sensed.
We trusted what our bodies were telling us.
We interrupted the inherited script that whispers:
“Don’t feel. Don’t speak. Don’t disrupt the hierarchy.”

And something unexpected happened.

When I felt truly heard—really seen—something inside me cracked open.
Tears came.
Not from fear. Not from pain.
But from gladness and gratitude.

Gladness that my courage was recognised.
Gladness that the room didn’t retreat from the moment.
Gladness that the system softened, even for a single breath, making room for something more human and honest.

And gratitude—deep gratitude—that these moments are no longer ignored.
That we can learn from them.
That we can create something better for those who follow.

This is why I do this work.
Because if we can’t bring our whole selves into the rooms where we lead, how can we expect anyone else to?

Why the Old System No Longer Works

We are leading in a volatile, fast-shifting, interconnected world.
Uncertainty isn’t an occasional visitor—it’s the landscape.

The old mindset of “don’t feel, just perform” collapses under this reality.

We now understand:
✨ Emotions are data.
✨ Supprepressing emotions suppresses intelligence.
✨ Command-and-control works in certainty, not complexity.

Today’s leaders need all three centres of intelligence online:
Mind — strategic clarity
Heart — emotional connection
Gut — instinct, courage, embodied knowing

When these are aligned, we lead with presence instead of autopilot.
With discernment instead of reaction.
With humanity instead of habit.
This is not softness.
This is strength.

Why Emotions Belong at Work

Inviting emotion isn’t about inviting chaos.
It’s about inviting truth.

When held with intention, emotions help teams:
• surface what is unspoken
• name the energy in the room
• prevent resentment and misalignment
• deepen trust and psychological safety
• make faster, wiser decisions

The problem has never been emotion.
The problem is unspoken emotion.

Reconnecting to My Why

I want my children to enter workplaces where they don’t have to shrink to fit in.
Where heart and intuition are valued alongside logic.
Where tears—if they come—are recognised as signals, not shortcomings.
Where courage isn’t punished, but welcomed.
Where humanity isn’t hidden, but honoured.

That’s why I stood up this week.
Fearful? Yes.
But fierce? Absolutely.

Rewriting the Future, Together

The era of command, control, and emotional autopilot is ending.

The leaders who will shape what comes next are those who can:
• hold space
• sense what’s happening beneath the surface
• speak truth with care
• stay grounded
• feel deeply
• choose their response with clarity

To lead in this new world, we must bring our whole selves—
Mind. Heart. Gut.
Not one. Not two.
All three.

This is how we rewrite the rules—
for us, for our teams, and for those who come after us.

Three Ways to Hold Emotion with Strength and Credibility

1. Notice and name what’s happening
   Emotion rises because something matters. Acknowledge it internally:
   • “Something is stirring in me.”
   • “This matters—that’s why I’m feeling it.”

This pause gives you choice and keeps you credible.

2. Anchor your body
   The body reacts before the mind. Ground yourself:
   • both feet on the floor
   • slow exhale
   • soften shoulders or jaw
   • brief pause

Your steadiness signals safety to others.

3. Release emotion cleanly—without apology
   Emotion doesn’t weaken credibility; it strengthens trust when held with intention.
   • “This matters to me.”
   • “I’m okay—let’s continue.”

Stay present. Stay clear. Stay connected.

Why This Matters

Emotion + awareness = leadership maturity.

This week, I witnessed a team of courageous coaches choose presence over performance—
and it gave me hope.

Team coaches hold the keys to melting outdated systems.
One team at a time, one moment at a time, we can shift the culture of work into something more human, more honest, and more sustainable.

Because when leaders feel deeply, stay steady, and choose courage,
they give every person in the room permission to do the same.

Thanks for reading.

If you are a leader of a team who wants to trust and support your team to navigate uncertainty with more courage, get curious about Team Coaching. Find me on LinkedIn and lets connect.

Sarah Cretegny.  ICF ACC Accredited Coach, Trained Team Coach and Founder of Coach Your Wild

I help people go from feeling fear to choosing courage. My coaching practice is a creative oasis in the wildness of life – your catalyst for authenticity, sustainable success and realising bold dreams. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, and coaching globally. www.coachyourwild.com